Seroquel be used for anxiety?

According to the Astra Zeneca website, Seroquel ( Quetiapine )
and Seroquel XR( extended release) are approved for several conditions.Just because something is not “approved”, however, does not mean that
it can’t be prescribed by a physician, off label. The answer to can
Seroquel be used for anxiety, is therefore yes.

Seroquel XR is approved for:

(1)Added to an antidepressant when a client with Major
depressive disorder is not fully responsive
(2) Treatment for acute depressive episodes in bipolar disorder
(3) Treatment for acute manic or mixed episodes in bipolar disorder
alone or with lithium or divalproex; (4) Long-term treatment of bipolar
disorder with lithium or divalproex
(5) Schizophrenia in adults and teens 13-17

Seroquel is approved for:

(1) Acute depressive episodes in bipolar disorder in adults
(2) Acute manic episodes in bipolar disorder in adults when used alone or with lithium or divalproex
(3) Acute manic episodes in bipolar disorder in children and adolescents ages 10 to 17 years
(4) Long-term treatment of bipolar disorder in adults with lithium or divalproex
(5) Schizophrenia in adults and
(6) Schizophrenia in adolescents ages 13-17 years.

Can seroquel be used for anxiety? What is off label prescribing

What is off label? Off label means just that, the doctor is
prescribing a drug for a purpose not listed on the label. It is legal
and fairly common, but the practice is not without controversy. The FDA
allows this and the drug companies like it. The question is, if the FDA
does not approve it, and doctors are prescribing it, who is really
regulating the safe use of these drugs?

Can seroquel be used for anxiety in bipolar disorder?

Seroquel or quetiapine (seroquel) is approved in the US for use
as monotherapy in both bipolar mania and depression. Monotherapy means
treatment with one drug. For this reasons psychiatrists may prefer
this choice.

Research shows 300 mg/day is effective in the treatment of
patients with bipolar I or II depression. Research shows fairly quick
improvements in symptoms of depression and anxiety ( in the context of
this illness) , as well as general reported improvement in enjoyment of
life.

Many physicians will also choose seroquel when treating bipolar
disorder, because, unlike other medications, it is unlikely to cause
mania, a problem for many medications. seroquel is “ approved” for
these uses.

Astra Zeneca Problems

Can seroquel be used to treat anxiety in other disorders?
Off label, seroquel used to treat anxiety. It has been used with
soldiers suffering from PTSD, somewhat controversially for about a
decade. Some studies have also suggested that seroquel can be used to
treat generalized anxiety. Doctors frequently will prescribe seroquel
off label for sleep and for clients who have other diagnoses that have a
component of anxiety, like bipolar disorder. Many of my adult and
child clients report that seroquel and seroquel XR assist with their
anxiety symptoms.

Seroquel is the fifth best-selling drug in the US and one of the
VA's top expenditures. After the 2008 death of Andrew White ,a 23 year
old army corporal, prescribed high doses of seroquel and other drugs to
help with his PTSD, this drug came under more scrutiny. Military
families are quite concerned about the use of this drug , which is the
VA’s second most favorite to prescribe.

Astra Zeneca has come under fire for these and other issues and
personal law suits have been settled. Seroquel can have a slew of side
effects, as the Astra Zeneca website attests to . That risk must be
weighed against the research, the severity of the symptoms and the
response of the symptoms to other forms of treatment.

I have seen seroquel help many of my children with bipolar
disorder and mood disorder. However, I have also seen it cause side
effects. Seroquel is always prescribed off label for children.

The question can seroquel be used for anxiety is easily answered
yes. But should it be? Outside of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia,
anxiety is fairly easy to treat. Generalized anxiety disorder, for
example, is often treated with psychotherapy successfully and in
combination with an antidepressant if necessary.

In this instance for example, why would a person want to take an
antipsychotic with serious side effects? The choice to use seroquel
involves a careful discussion with a psychiatrist and understanding of
what other treatment options are available.